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We have just arrived in Bangkok, Thailand (which is manic) after spending four days in Dubai. Dubai was extremely hot (so hot the camera wouldn't work at one point) and we have a tan to take with us already.
It took us awhile to get our bearings as we are a little way out of the main city of Dubai in an area called Bur Dubai. The hotel was lovely (probably the best we'll see for awhile). We spent a lot of our time lazing by the pool as we had planned to do.
On our first day when we were sunbathing by the pool, Sam turned to Clare and asked 'can you hear that' in which Clare said 'yes' and then continued to give Sam a religious education lesson, explaining that a man from the mosque is calling his people to come to pray and that this happened five times a day. The Mosque was literally right opposite our hotel. Sam then asked Clare 'please tell me this doesn't start earlier'. Clare then informed Sam that it starts at 5am!!!!! And yes, every morning since we have been here we have been awoken at 5am by the man bellowing over a very loud speaker, just outside our window. He sort of sings loudly, slowly and quite eerily. Thank god Clare told Sam, otherwise I'm sure she would have thought it was some sort of evacuation!!!
On Tuesday (our second day) we headed to see the famous Burj Al Arab hotel. It is pretty awesome… just like in the pictures (Sam prefers the Spinaker). After spending a little time by the beach next to here we headed to Jameria Beach Park, which was lovely. The beaches here are gorgeous, but the sea is like a warm bath, so makes it hard to cool down… which may have lead to the following events!!
Mums please don't panic…. But Clare wanted to pop to the beach hut for a drink so we walked up to it across the beach and on the way there Sam said to Clare "I really don't feel well.. I can't see properly… I think I'm going to faint!!!" Luckily Sam managed to sit herself down on a bench at which point…. she fainted (ha ha how embarrassing). Clare asked the couple next to her for some help! In which the South African guy, (we think!) reported I'm a doctor (always there when you need them). Sam was laid down on the bench and surrounded by the South African Doctor, his wife, Clare, a Lifeguard and a German doctor and was out of it for awhile. Once the German and South African doctors stopped arguing "I'm a doctor, but I'm a doctor too'- the German doctor lifted Sam's leg in the air, chucked water in her face and then slapped her hard in the face, which worked- because it woke her up. At this point Sam was wondering what the hell was going on, who are all these people looking over me? Where is Clare? Clare then said 'don't worry Sam they are doctors.. you fainted'. How very embarrassing!!!
So after this fiasco, Clare spent the rest of the day asking Sam every ten seconds if she was ok. Bless her, because she's that sort of person. And Sam spent the rest of the day apologizing for scaring Clare!!! In the evening we headed to Madinat (from recommendation of Mike), which was a lovely complex of shops, bars and restaurants. We had a lovely noodle meal and Clare took some fantastic photos of the Burj Al Arab at night with her pro camera.
The next day we got up early to go do a tour of Jameriah Mosque, but unfortunately it was closed!! We then returned to the pool before heading out for our Desert Safari tour. We were picked up at our hotel in the Jeep! As we climbed into the back seats, Clare said "I think we'll have to be the overly happy ones on this tour' because of all the grumpy looking people in the Jeep. However, the Indian lady then turned around and kept smiling and staring at Sam. Although she spoke little English, it turned out she was from Bombay (Mumbai) and she was soooo lovely, our new little friend. The Jeep ride on the dunes was great. We then headed to a camp site type place, for a very short ride on a camel, one go at sand boarding and some well needed bears (they tasted so good). We then had some rubbish Henna tattoos done and watched a belly dancer! We would describe it as a fun cheesy afternoon and evening!!!
So today we arrived in Thailand after a very long journey! Sam was grumpy already because she was tired, hot, hungry, thristy and mainly as it was so hard carrying the backpack! (not like her at all). We are really looking forward to our journey south from here. Although Dubai was fun and relaxing, it took us awhile to find our bearings and we now look forward to the backpacking through Thailand……
Until our next blog……….
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